Harlem’s St. Nick’s Garden takes root

Several of us come from families of rural and urban gardners dating from the time we were kids. So we are always eager to promote, support and/or participate in related activities in Harlem.

Justin Garrett Moore recently contacted us about a group that is organizing to create a community garden on a vacant lot at 127th and St. Nick.  It’s called St. Nick’s Garden, 330 St. Nicholas Avenue, Manhattan block 1953, lot 44.

MISSION STATEMENT – In their own words.

GOAL

“Our goal is to create an urban garden with a strong public presence on a well-trafficked corridor in Central Harlem, just off of the famed 125th Street. Many of the established community gardens in our community are tightly-controlled spaces with limited visibility and engagement toward the neighborhood at-large. The St. Nicholas Garden will take advantage of its location to become both an environmental asset for the neighborhood, and a part of our community members’ lives. The garden will promote greening and environmental awareness, and serve to educate our neighbors and children in the community about gardening, healthy eating, and sustainable living. In addition, the garden’s compact size and dense urban context gives us the opportunity to promote vertical urban gardening and test innovative methods for maximizing space and resources.

BENEFITS

Benefits to our Harlem community:

• Greening and activation of vacant, underutilized land in the community
• The opportunity, space, and sharing of resources that allow community members to grow healthy food or plants for the neighborhood’s beatification
• Provide a highly visible and easily accessible (by walking, bike, or public transportation) place for community-focused environmental awareness, health and education
• Provide a location for the safe and managed collection and reuse of organic waste, reducing the burden on the City’s waste stream
• Provide a place for small-scale neighborhood gatherings and activities focused on urban environment, health, and community.”

Activities are underway including completing and submitting the proposal to GreenThumb and conducting the next planning meeting which is tentatively scheduled for Saturday/Sunday March 16/17.

For more information click here.